Engine starter



Dec. 12, 1950 -J, KNEZO, JR 2,533,379

ENGINE STARTER Filed Jan. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR L L 1610 lljlw M ATTO RN EYS,

Dec. 12, 1950 J. KNEZO, JR

ENGINE STARTER Filed Jan. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR i L- fi V zmlm ATTORNEYS,

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 ENGINE STARTER John Knezo, Jr., Garwood, N. J., assignor to Breeze Corporations, Inc., Newark, N. .1., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 15, 1947, Serial No. 122,115

Claims.

This invention relates to engine starters. It is particularly adapted for use with outboard marine motors, lawn mower engines, generator or compressor motor units, and the like.

It is customary, in the low priced engine field, to provide a hand cranking means for starting. This may comprise the well known crank or even a starting rope. The use of these starting devices is not only unsatisfactory but often dangerous to the user and those near him. Where an outboard motor is to be used on a canoe or similar small boat, starting the engine becomes a matter of some hazard to the operator.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive starter for engines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a starter which may be used under conditions which prohibit hand cranking.

Another object of this invention is to provide a starter which shall insure the safety of the user and those near him.

A feature of this invention is its high efllciency, which greatly exceeds any hand cranking method.

Another feature of this invention is its novel indexing mechanism which permits of easy successive firings.

Another feature of this invention is its firing pin construction.

A further feature of this invention is its shear pin safety device.

A feature of this invention is its starter and adapter jaw construction, which disengage when the engine starts.

A further feature of this invention is its adapter construction which makes it usable with any engine.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the entire starter, with certain parts cut away to show internal construction.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the starter, with certain portions shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the starter, showing a longitudinal section of the firing pin.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the firing pin assembly and breech block assembly.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the entire breech mechanism.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 1, lookin in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring-to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, 10 indicates a barrel-like tube in which a piston I I is slidably held. The piston II is provided with grooves l2 at one end to receive piston rings I3. The other end of the piston II is formed into a gear rack I l.

The rack I4 is meshed with a pinion which is secured to the top of a shaft 16. The shaft I8 has a starting jaw l1 attached thereto by a pin l8. This pin 18 is preferably a shear pin, as a hereinafter described safety precaution. Thus, as the piston H is 'moved within the barrel Ill, the rack and pinion l4, l5 rotate the jaw 11.

The means by which the piston II is caused to move within the barrel I0 is contained in the construction shown at the right hand end of the barrel ill in Figures 1 and 2, and in the fragmentary views shown in Figures 3. 4, and 5. This comprises a pistol grip handle 19 having a hollowed-out recess 20 in the back thereof to store cartridges 2!. and a breech mechanism 22. This breech mechanism 22 is actuated by a firing pin 23. in Figure 3 and is located at the rear of the starter. The firing pin 23 is provided with a collar 25, integral therewith and spaced from the striking end thereof. The end of the firing pin opposite the collar 25 is formed into a stop member 26 which is integral with the said pin 23. The stop member 26 is received within a trigger button 21 which is slidably mounted upon the shaft 28 of the pin 23.

A coil spring 29 is positioned around the shaft 28 between the collar 25 and the end 30 of the trigger button 21. This spring 29, hereinafter referred to as the firing spring 29, serves to separate the button 21 from the collar 25. A second spring 31 surrounds the shaft 32 of the trigger button 21.

As the trigger 21 is pushed forward it compresses the firing spring 29. This cooks the collar 25 of the firing pin 23, which is held in a slot 33 in the top of a small spring mounted cammed cylinder 34. When the end 30 of the trigger button 21 reaches the position upon the cam 51, shown in Figure 4, it has forced the cylinder 34 downward against the support of a pin 56 sufliciently to release the collar 25. The firing pin 23 then snaps forward through a breech block The firing pin assembly 24 is clearly shown 35, under the pressure of the firing spring 23, to strike the cartridge 2|, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. when the trigger 21 is released it regains its former position, as shown in Figure 3, by reason of the operation of the spring 3|.

The cartridges 2| are inserted and held within a magazine 36, best shown in Figures 4 and 6. The magazine 36 is cylindrical in shape and provided with a plurality of bores 31 to receive the cartridges 2|. A small shaft 38 is axially positioned upon the magazine 36 so that the said magazine 36 may be rotatably mounted within the breech housing 39.

The magazine 36 is freely held within the breech mechanism housing 39, which comprises the main breech casting 40 and an arcuate cover plate 4|. The cover plate 4| is hinged to the main casting 46 at 42, and provided with a flange 43 at the opposite rim thereof. A spring clip 44 is provided upon the breech 38 to lock the cover plate 4| in place.

The barrel face of the magazine 36 is provided with a sprocket 45. This sprocket 45 serves to index the, magazine 36 so that successive cartridges 2| may be fired. Indexing is accomplished by the co-operation of a tooth 46 milled in the end of the barrel ID, as hereinafter described.

The barrel I is threaded into a steel sleeve 41 secured within the main casting 46 for this purpose. The opposite end of the barrel I0 is threaded into the pinion housing 48 and locked thereto by a suitable pin 49, as shown in Figure 2.

The left hand end of the housing 48 is grooved at 50 to receive a spring The opposite end of this spring 5| is secured to the end of the gear rack I4 on the end of the piston A resilient bellows 52 is slipped over the entire spring 5| and clamped to the end of the housing 48 to seal the end of the starter and protect the user from injury.

An exhaust port 54, shown immediately to the right of the housing 48 in Figure 2 completes the construction of the starter.

An examination of the foregoing description will make the operation of the starter apparent. The magazine 36 is loaded with cartridges 2|, containing a charge of slow burning powder, well known in the art, and the cover plate 4| closed. The starter is then placed with the starter jaw engaging the jaw of the adapter 53. The adapter 53 is so constructed that it may be attached to the flywheel (not'shown) of any engine. The handle I9 of the starter may then be rotated 90 to the right upon the barrel I0. This causes the tooth 46 at the end of the barrel III to trip the sprocket 45. The magazine is thus indexed to the next firing station.

When the handle I9 is returned to the vertical position, the threads on the barrel I6 cause it to bear against the magazine 36, so as to squeeze the magazine 36 and cartridge 2| between the barrel I6 and the breech block 35. This prevents gas leakage at that point. The trigger 21 is then pushed forward until the firing pin 23 is released and strikes the cartridge 2|.

The expanding gas resulting from the discharge of the cartridge 2| forces the piston down the barrel II]. The piston I I in turn moves the rack I4 which rotates the pinion I6. The pinion I8 turns the shaft I6 and drives the jaw I1 thereon. The adapter jaw 53 is thus spun around and the flywheel, to which it is attached, with it. When the end of the piston ii reaches the exhaust port 54, the gases behind it escape and the spring 5| returns the piston II to its 4 original position. wheel exceeds that of the starting jaw II, the starter is thrown clear of the engine by the operation of the inclined teeth 55 on the starter jaw I1 and the adapter 53 (see Figure '7).

In the event that the engine to be started is "seized up, and will -not turn over the shear pin I8 breaks and the shaft I6 turns harmlessly within the jaw IT. The shear pin I8 must be of suflicient strength, however, to withstand the normal starting loads.

It is possible, with a starter constructed as described above, and using a powder charge of one gram, to turn the shaft of a ten horsepower engine about eight revolutions at a speed of about 1200 R. P. M. The advantage of this starting means over hand cranking methods is evident.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an engine starter, a barrel member, a piston slidable within the barrel, a rack within the barrel and an enclosed pinion actuated by the rack and piston, a breech mechanism comprising a cylindrical magazine bored to receive a plurality of cartridges therein, indexing means adjacent the magazine comprising a sprocket integral with the said magazine, a tooth on the end of the barrel and a threaded engagement between the barrel and breech whereby the tooth may be caused to trip the said sprocket, and a firing means, said breech being adjacent one end of the barrel to receive and discharge cartridges into the barrel and a spring member adjacent the opposite end of the barrel to return the piston to its prefiring position.

2. In an engine starter, a barrel member, a piston slidable within the barrel, a rack within the barrel and an enclosed pinion actuated by the rack and piston, a breech mechanism comprising a cylindrical magazine bored to receive a plurality of cartridges therein, indexing means adjacent the magazine and a firing means comprising a firing pin, a spring mounted cocking cylinder and a trigger, said breech being adjacent one end of the barrel to receive and discharge cartridges into the barrel and a spring member adjacent the opposite end of the barrel to return the piston to its prefiring position.

3. In an engine starter, a barrel member, a piston slidable within the barrel, a rack within the barrel and an enclosed pinion actuated by the rack and piston, a breech mechanism comprising a cylindrical magazine bored to receive a plurality of cartridges therein, indexing means adjacent the magazine comprising a sprocket integral with the said magazine, a tooth on the end of the barrel and a threaded engagement between the barrel and breech whereby the tooth may be caused to trip the said sprocket and a firing means, comprising a firing pin, a spring mounted cocking cylinder and a trigger, said breech being adjacent one end of the barrel to receive and discharge cartridges intothe barrel and a spring member adjacent the opposite end of the barrel to returnthe piston to its prefiring position.

4. In an engine starter, a barrel member, a piston slidable within the barrel, a rack within the barrel and an enclosed pinion actuated by the piston, a breech mechanism adjacent one end of the barrel to receive and discharge cartridges into the barrel, and a spring member adjacent the opposite end of the barrel to return the piston to its prefiring position, having When the speed of the fly- 5 an accordion shaped resilient cover therearound to seal the end of the barrel.

5. In an engine starter, a barrel member, a piston slidable within the barrel having a plurality of piston rings therearound, a rack within the barrel integral with the piston and a pinion having a shaft and a starting jaw attached to the shaft by means of a shear pin, said jaw being provided with a plurality of buttressed teeth actuated by the piston, a breech mechanism com- 10 prising a cylindrical magazine bored to receive a plurality of cartridges therein, indexing means adjacent the magazine comprising a sprocket integral with the said magazine, a tooth on the end of the barrel and a threaded engagement 15 between the barrel andbreech whereby the tooth may be caused to trip the said sprocket and a firing means comprising a firing pin, a spring mounted cocking cylinder and a trigger, said breech being adjacent one end of the barrel to receive and discharge cartridges into the barrel, a discharge port in the said barrel and a spring member adjacent the opposite end of the barrel having one end connected to the barrel and its 8 other end joined to the said piston to return the piston to its preflring position.

JOHN KNEZO, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 679,898 Josse Aug. 6, 1901 1,940,179 Nardone Dec. 19, 1938 2,011,144 Coflman Aug. 13, 1935 2,123,711 Callsen July 12, 1988 2,148,507 Seaman Feb. 28, 1939 2,221,706 Havill 'Nov. 12, 1940 2,398,910 Pontius Apr. 23, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number, Country Date 197,318 Great Britain o! 1928 475,128 Great Britain of 1937 812,647 France of 1937 

